Reviews and Testimonials

“Finally, a vegetarian cookbook for pregnant women that takes into account not only good nutrition but also ease of use. Olson (Simply Natural Baby Food) offers meals designed for each trimester of pregnancy and every lactation period of breastfeeding; these dishes are based on her family's favorites, with ingredients that are never exotic or hard to find in the local grocery or health food store. Many are vegan, and all are simple to prepare and delicious (e.g., Shepherd's Pie and Mushroom Stroganoff). Breakfasts, quick lunches, main dishes, snacks, desserts, beverages, and more are covered. Complete nutritional information, with key nutrients highlighted, is provided for each recipe. Including an excellent index, this innovative book is heartily recommended for public libraries.”
- Library Journal (starred review)

“Cathe Olson's book is a welcome, comprehensive and trustworthy resource for vegetarian families.”
- Peggy O'Mara, publisher and editor of Mothering

“The Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook is an essential guide for mommy and family. Delicious, healthful foods that keep the whole family healthy - who can ask for more?”
- Phyllis Balch, CNC, author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Dietary Wellness, Herbal Healing, and The A-toZ Guide to Supplements

“This book contains a treasure trove of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes that will make eating during your vegetarian pregnancy simply a snap!”
- Erin Pavlina, editor of VegFamily.com, and author of Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World

“Cathe Olson gives both vegetarian and non-vegetarian mothers hundreds of great vegetarian recipes for healthy, delicious meals. She is to be congratulated ”
- Dean Raffelock, D.C., Dipl. Ac., CCN, author of A Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Health

“The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook is a cookbook especially designed to nourish vegetarian pregnant and lactating women, though the delicious meals are also excellent for serving one's whole family. Over 300 vegetarian and vegan recipes with nutrient analysis (vitamins and minerals as well as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, and sodim) along with vegan recipes, "quick fix" meals and freezable entrees, wheat-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and egg-free options, special teas and tonics to ease common pregnancy and postpartum discomforts, tips and tricks for minimizing kitchen work, and much more pack this easy-to-use guide. Highly recommended for vegetarian expectant and new mothers everywhere.”
- The Midwest Book Review

“Cathe really knows how to pack nutritious foods into one recipe for maximum health benefits. When you are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby, you want to be absolutely sure you're getting everything you need so your baby does too. This book makes it easy! With recipes like Millet Veggie Burgers, Potato-Kale Quiche, and Coconut Tempeh Stew you will be in heaven while supplying wonderful nutrition to your baby. ”
- Erin Pavlina, VegFamily Magazine

“I’m thrilled that a cookbook has been written specifically for vegetarian mothers. When a woman becomes pregnant, health and good nutrition take on a whole new and higher level of importance. Cathe Olson clearly understands this, and with the release of her new book The Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook, provides a comprehensive guide to healthy eating during pregnancy, complete with recipes the whole family will enjoy. I also like all the extra details and information in the book: sample menus, time-saving tips, nutritional information ? all help make the book thoroughly readable, more than just a cookbook. I’m so excited with Cathe’s new book and I know you will be too! Indeed, The Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook is one of the best cookbooks I’ve read to date! ”
- Melissa Neesham, Vegetarianwomen.com

“As more and more people become vegetarian, or just limit their meat intake, more pregnant women will need nutritious and tasty recipes to sustain them and their babies-to-be. This book is the answer!”
- Cheryl K. Smith, managing editor of Midwifery Today

“Blessings frequently come along in unexpected ways. The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook by Cathe Olson is one of those true blessings that lend creative support to vegetarian or vegan women planning a family, experiencing pregnancy, or are presently lactating. . . . any family could benefit from the constellation of wholesome recipes made easier with Cathe Olson’s numerous time-saving tips and well-planned meal suggestions.”
- Vegetarians In Paradise

“I wanted to write to you and tell how much I appreciate your latest book, Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook . I am in my 3rd month of pregnancy with our 2nd natural child. After our last child was born, I experienced terrible hypothyroidism and gained more weight than when I was 9 months pregnant. With this pregnancy, I can only gain 15 pounds. I feel like I have made nearly half the recipes of the book! Maybe I will make them all by my due date. :) The chia seeds have been great and our 11-year-old who has ADD has been adding chia gel to her breakfast. She swears it helps her.

I wanted to share a few of my tips. The first is taking your instant oatmeal and making individual baggies for individual servings. The other is to roll out a batch of dough and cut it out with a 3-inch cookie cutter (the big Wilton's ones work best) and then freeze them in individual servings. I freeze tomato sauce in ice cube trays. My kids can make pizzas from these and chopped frozen veggies. I thought I would share. :)”
- Cathleen

“I just wanted to write and let you know how much I love your cookbook The Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook. My husband got it for me for Christmas but before then, I had renewed it 3 times from the library! It’s my favorite!!!”
- Michelle

“I just wanted to let you know that I tried the Ricemilk recipe both ways. The stovetop method is very good, but I love that I can sleep and make rice milk at the same time!!! I just start the crockpot before I go to sleep, and in the morning the rice is done and ready for blending!

I had never tried rice milk before. It is very good in my tea. I don't drink it on its own (although I love horchata!!) so I cut down on the honey.

Thanks for this great recipe!”
- Emily

“I want to tell you that I love your Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook! I borrowed it from my local library when I was first planning my pregnancy and I had to go right out and buy my own copy. I use it all the time and it's the first time in a long time that I've bought a cookbook and loved every recipe I've tried...I use it all the time. Thanks again for the great book!”
- Tamarah (19 weeks pregnant)

“I have been using your Vegetarian Mother's cookbook and have found it a valuable tool in my kitchen that is mostly vegan and hypo-allergenic. As a designer, I must compliment you on the cover too! I buy it for all my pregnant girlfriends who don't know how to eat properly.”
- Diana in Nashville, TN

“I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful book, The The Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook. A newly-minted vegetarian myself, I thought "well now, what am I going to cook for my 3 year old!!" I took a few books out of the library and yours was hands down the best. My favorite recipe so far is the Fragrant Baked Rice. All I can say is WOW. So simple, SO delicious.  Oh, and the waffles, and the scones... I could go on and on. :) I am now going to get myself a copy . . . how could I go wrong!

So thank you so much for the amazing recipes and keep up the good work keeping families like mine healthy and happy!”
- Steph M.

“I LOVE your book!  I found it and used it daily throughout my pregnancy and continue to use the great information and recipes, as I am nursing my 22-month old.

Moreover, my gestational diabetes was beautifully managed due in no small
part to these practical and fantastic recipes.  I had a healthy baby and
great birth.

Lastly, I am a nurse-midwife and would like you to know that not a day goes by that I don't bring out your book (creases and all).  I have recommended it more times than I can count.  I find myself preaching about protein daily, but having a great resource with recipes helps so much.

Thanks so much for a fantastic resource!”
- Jennifer E.

“I nearly kicked myself when I read the recipe for rice milk!  My daughter has milk and soy allergies, so we bought rice milk (very expensive and hard to find). Thanks so much for writing this book. I don't want to live without it!”
- Shannon

“My name is Lisa and I am 36 weeks pregnant. I bought your book when I was 5 weeks pregnant and having been loving it and use it all the time. My husband who isn't even vegetarian, is ready to become vegetarian with all the wonderful dishes I have made. We love the tofu scramble, asian noodles, shepherd’s pie, millet pudding, sesame molasses cookies and the mushroom stroganoff is the absolute best!

I refer to this book all the time for my nutrition and am really happy I found it. The recipes were really easy to follow and change ingredients if I didn't have something. I just noticed you have a baby food cookbook also. I will have to find a copy of that. I bought this book at Golden Bridge Yoga in LA.”
- Lisa